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Docta Ignorantia XLVIII Oil in the Lamps Here is a recommendation: that the idea be floated, and appropriately examined, to commend the Sanctuary of St. Thomas Church to 24-hour, 7-day perpetual vigil, lighted during the hours of darkness and staffed by volunteers and, occasionally, clergy. The rationale for this idea is known and understood, but I will detail some of its lineaments. Fundamentally, the church is a sanctuary. The purpose of a sanctuary is rest and refuge. Practically, this means the church is a mixture of instruction, learning, rumination and prayer. Our society is a 24-hour affair. It is full of genuine spiritual thirst. This thirst is not- denominationally identifiable excepting -- and this is important -- as denominational forms and tones coincide with the several archetypes of piety which experience shows lead to satisfaction of that thirst. In other words, the denominational differences are necessary insofar as they accommodate legitimate differences in spiritual taste. The underlying unity of all spiritual thirst is the three-part piety of prayer, study and service. The cups may be different colors, but the water within is the same. The church now is more like leaven than like the lump, as it used to be. Now, instead of identification of culture with church, we have church as benefactor of culture, detached. With this comes a different social kernel, something we can describe as somewhere between the insular monogamy of the parish system (C of E Anglicanism) and the cenobitical monogamy of the Protestant (Hutterite, Amish, Mennonite) and Reformed (Taize) monastic orders. It is no secret, fortunately, that what we have grasped concerning the ultra-democracy (love) of Celtic Christianity compared to the arbitrary legalism (tyranny) of Roman Christianity has been greatly inspirational in this regard. The church now is fewer, more trained, more dedicated personalities living modified monastic existences, detached from mainstream culture yet within it, being both individually and corporately God's source. The physical front has to be shortened, the larger facilities employed longer and the smaller ones sold off. St. Thomas fits the profile of a necessary Sanctuary and for this reason, for this culture, should be always lit and staffed.
Adwaitha Hermitage
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